Bunny Toddler Backpack Free Pattern

With Easter just around the corner, I thought today would be a great time to share this Bunny Toddler Backback Free Pattern with all of you!

It’s the perfect little backpack to fill with goodies for Easter, or fill with treasures all year long!

Going on an adventure? Your little one is set!

Lola really loves bunnies – she still wears her bunny costume I made all the time. Hattie was given this little pink bunny as a gift when she was born, and Lola snatched it up right away. We won’t tell Hattie…

You can imagine her excitement when I surprised her with this new bunny backpack! There were lots of giggles, thank-yous, and hugs involved :).

Additional Pieces to Cut (also printed on pattern piece download above):From Main Fabric:
Straps: 2 – 6”x24” (note: this length works well on my three year old as pictured – if making for an older child, you may want to lengthen the straps)
Strap Loops: 2 – 6”x5”
Handle: 3”x6”
Zipper Gussets: 2 – 2.25”x15”
Bottom / Side Gusset: 4.5”x20”

Cut out all pieces as instructed on pattern pieces. Trim the seam allowance from front/back, ear, gusset, and zipper gusset fusible fleece pieces to reduce bulk (do not trim strap, strap loop, or handle fusible fleece pieces). Interfacing seam allowance can also be trimmed if desired – I usually trim it for easier application). Apply interfacing to wrong side of corresponding pieces, and fusible fleece to main fabric pieces (see note below), following manufacturer’s instructions. Adhesive side of fusible fleece will be attached to right side of interfacing.

Note: After attaching interfacing, fold strap, strap loop, and handle pieces in half and press. Open fold and attach fusible fleece adjacent to the fold on one side.

Press one short edge of each strap piece 1/2″ to wrong side. To assemble straps, strap loops, and handle, fold each long raw edge to center and press. Fold in half along as was originally pressed, and press. Stitch close to edge along each side, and along short pressed edge (required for strap only – strap loops and handle can be stitched along one short edge as well to avoid needing to backstitch and lift the presser foot between stitching long edges).

Fold each strap loop in half and through adjuster ring. Stitch each to bottom of back main piece as marked on pattern pieces.

Thread stitched end of one strap through middle bar of strap adjuster as pictured below. Be sure right side of strap adjuster is facing upward. Overlap end 1.5″ back onto strap and stitch in place with a narrow rectangle.

Thread remaining strap end through adjuster loop, and then through each side of adjuster bar as pictured. Stitch end to top of back to secure in place. Repeat with remaining strap. Center handle ends between straps as diagramed secure ends in place (handle was originally attached in a later step so is not in following photos).

RST, pin and stitch one main fabric ear piece to one fleece/faux fur ear piece along curved edges, using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Repeat for remaining ear pieces.

Turn each ear right side out. Press as needed (be careful pressing if using faux fur).

Pin and stitch each ear to front main piece as marked on pattern piece.

Using a basting stitch (longest stitch length on machine), stitch around entire circumference of tail piece, without backstitching at beginning or end of stitches and leaving long thread tails.

Pull threads on right side only, gathering outside edges toward center. Stuff opening with polyester stuffing. Close opening by pulling top threads tighter, and handstitch (can use the top threads) to secure the opening closed.

Handstitch the tail to the front main piece as marked on pattern piece (use a heavy weight thread for more stability).

Place zipper face down onto right side of one main fabric zipper gusset piece. Top and bottom of zipper should be 1/2″ from edge of zipper gusset piece. Stitch zipper to gusset, 1/4″ from edge.

Repeat with remaining main fabric zipper gusset piece and other side of zipper. Press zipper gusset pieces flat, away from zipper.

Pin and stitch one short edge of zipper gusset to one short edge of bottom/side gusset. Press seam toward bottom/side gusset.

Pin main gusset to main back piece, matching center of zipper gusset and bottom/side gussets with notches on main back piece and matching gusset seams to side notches on main back piece. Continue to pin from the notches outward, leaving the curved edges unpinned. Clip gusset near unpinned curves, then pin in place. Stitch main gusset to back piece along pinned edge.

Pin and stitch short edge of lining zipper gusset pieces to short edge of lining bottom/side gusset pieces, matching outside raw edges. Pressed lining zipper gusset pieces will be toward the center of, and there will be a 1/2″ space between the two folds.

Attach lining front and back to lining gusset using same method as instructed for assembling main front/back and gusset pieces. Be sure to pin all straight edges first, then clipping the gusset near the curves before pinning. Cut notches into seam allowances along curves and press seams open.

Turn main backpack right side out and lining wrong side out. Place lining into backpack, matching and pinning pressed lining zipper gusset edges to wrong side of zipper. Lining zipper gusset edge should be 1/4″ from zipper teeth.

Handstitch lining to zipper.

Topstitch along each side of zipper.

Whew, great job! You made it!

Now go fill the backpack with lots of goodies and surprise some-bunny special!

Hi Emily! If you scroll through this post, you will see a link to download the pattern (under the “supplies” section). The link will take you to Craftsy, where you will be able to download the pattern for free! Hope that helps!

Hello, i would like to start this project, and made this beautiful backpack for my girl, she have 18 months.. But the problem is that i can download the pdf and i made myself the pattern, but i don’t fiinf anywhere the face and the back of the backpack size… I have the starps, handle, zipper, but i don’t giind the front and the back size. Can you please help me with this? Thanks a lot

I’m in the middle of making the backpack and I love the pattern. I’ve never made a backpack so out of curiosity, what is the reason for layering the interfacing with the fusible fleece to the main fabric? Would the fusible fleece not be enough by itself? Thanks!

Très jolis those Bunny Backpack and Bunny bag. The tutorial is very well explain.
I click down for the free pattern for both of them but it does not activate the download pattern.
Is it still available? Thank you.

I just finished this backpack for my 2 year old. She loves it and it was easy! Great tutorial! I’m going to make the heart one for my nieces birthday gift as well!

We are going to Disney in a few months, and think I will take this pattern and do Minnie mouse ears rather than bunny ears and a tail that can act as a leash type thing rather than a puff. I can imagine it now!

Thank you so much for your work and sharing it with us! If I could figure out how to post a picture I would do it if my finished backpack!

Hello,
Can i ask a question because I don’t speak perfectly english. Is the seam allowance included in the pattern? I want to make the backpack for next schoolyeae and understand everything, but only question that. Thanks for this lovely idea and i will sure share my result with you!
Hannelie

I have just made two of these for my twins birthday and they love them. I used cord so didn’t use any interfacing and also didn’t put the plastic sheet in the bottom and really please the way they came out and are ready their things for nursery.

Thanks for this pattern! It’s super cute. I’ve printed the PDF and I have a few questions before I start. Why does the pattern have you cut ears from the lining?

And I would like to add 2.5in to the height of the backpack so it can fit a peice of paper and my daughter can use it for preschool, I’m planning to add 5 inches to the bottom/side gusset, do I need to add more anywhere else? Do I need to make the straps 2.5in longer?

Thank you so much I love the finished product, I love the purple and pink, that’s what I’m planning to use too.

Hi! You are correct about making the change to the gusset, and I would add the 2.5″ to the straps as well. And thank you for mentioning the lining for the ears, that is not necessary and is a misprint on the pattern piece – I’m glad you noticed it and will correct it for future downloads. I’d love to see how your bag turns out!

[…] that last one there because it’s what I sewed for my little boy! For this backpack I used Sew Much Ado’s FREE bunny backpack pattern. I wasn’t sure if my 2 year old would like the backpack or even keep it on, but once he […]

[…] This Bunny Backpack is great for Easter, but your kid might want to wear it year-round. Sew Much Ado has a fantastic step-by-step guide for getting your kid an absolutely adorable place to stash their Easter eggs. Get the guide here. […]